Fla. mom writes check to put cop at kid's elementary school

FLAGLER BEACH, Fla. A Florida mother has effectively hired a deputy for her daughter's elementary school because of concerns she had after last month's mass school shooting in Connecticut, CBS Orlando affiliate WKMG-TV reports.

The Flagler County Sheriff's Office said Laura Lauria wrote a check for nearly $12,000 to the Flagler County School District, which will reimburse the sheriff's office to station a deputy for six hours a day, five days a week, at Old Kings Elementary School in Flagler Beach.

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Currently, school resource deputies are stationed at all Flagler County high schools and as many as three middle schools, but not at elementary schools.

A sheriff's spokesman said Lauria funded the hiring through her police supply company, Police Services Inc.

Lauria could not be reached for comment Monday.

The spokesman also said the sheriff's office wants to put deputies at all schools in the county and is working on finding funding.

Flagler County parents told WKMG-TV they support the addition of the deputy.

"If I had the money I'd hire four or five," said grandmother Gwen Hedley. "To know there's somebody there that if somebody comes in with a gun they could try and stop them before they kill more children."

Parent Lisa Howell agreed.

"I think it's going to make a lot of parents feel more comfortable that someone else is able to do that, but it's also helping a lot of people," Howell said.

[Charlesworth_Longtooth]

I wasn't aware that all it takes is 12 grand (probably tax deductible) to post an officer where I want. My ex-wife is getting on my nerves, I think I will post an officer at her house.

[nohater]

don't know anymore. news reports out in nevada a las vegas police officer, a lieutenant, shot and killed his wife, his child. he then killed himself as police arrived at the murder scene. he, his family, lived 20 miles out of las vegas think henderson, or nearby. who does one trust anymore?

[Talmadgef]

there are also reports of him saying i didn't do this!!
And why pray tell would he call the police on himself for the crime and then tell them he would fire on first responders, when in fact he did not?
this doesn't add up..

"Patrick Brewer, a neighbor of the victims, said he overheard a person saying, "I did not do this," as police circled the home and told a man to put down his weapon the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported.

Given that Hans Walters had upheld the law for more than 20 years, and that he had risen to the rank of a police lieutenant during that time, it is a hard pillow to swallow that he would take the life of his wife, child and then himself.

It is even harder to fathom that he would call police and claim responsibility for the crime, and then go on to give them advance notice that he was about to torch the home too, and that he would shoot any responding officer that tried to stop him. But to then also hear that a bystander may have heard him tell police when they arrived that "I didn't do this," seems a little too much to comprehend."

[right_said_fred]

There is an organization that is willing to help pick up the tab for the schools that can't afford it. But everyone is so blinded by its name, and cant see beyond party lines, they cant see the light of day.

The National School Shield program is free, and put together by a bunch of awesome people that want to see our children safe. Don't judge it before you try it.

[Talmadgef]

because it would hurt their pride far too much for them to admit that the NRA is right about anything..

[legalbutunjust]

Might make a person wonder what kind of legal entanglement or court-related scenario could unfold if for whatever reason this school in which her daughter attends really IS attacked by an armed intruder. I mean, what if this officer fails to disarm the person, or otherwise prevent injury or loss of life should a shooting actually take place, or become attempted in this school or on its grounds, in the cop's immediate absence or inability to stop it? Does she get to sue?

What becomes of a situation in which, hypothetically, another parent's child becomes a victim, but not her own kid? Perhaps worse yet, is she personally liable if for whatever reason, an armed confrontation ensues inside this school, and a bullet from the officer's gun accidentally wounds or kills a child caught in crossfire or in the backdrop? What about a possible hostage situation, how does that come into the mix with a privately paid, full-time armed officer? Where's the insurance schematic; is this business proprietor-funded, or paid exclusively for, by a "private person"? Are there refund disclaimers, should something take place and go terribly wrong? Are there any even if no gun-related incident comes about?

Does it matter who is shot at, or what the circumstances or outcomes are in the event of an unstoppable gun-related assault or killing? These are ALL the kinds of concerns that would appear reasonably necessary to be in the "fine print" before- and not after, placing this armed officer in the school under such funding circumstances.

Where is it that "the parents" and school board officials formally approved of this in a proper procedural, legal manner?

[reportitrit]

Good action taken by the mother. At least she is not just sitting around waiting for the government to take action. She is taking a step to ensure that her child is protected.

[TheDocD]

Too bad many were killed at the schools while there WERE ARMED OFFICERS PRESENT. Them being there did zero good.

[redhillsrd]

FEAR is going to make parents pony up money that teachers and equipment should have gotten. We don't have the same problems as the rich...so stop comparing yourselves to deserving bodyguards per child 24 x 7.

Foolish woman... that 12k is gone in 1 month. The police thanks you though.

Why didn't she put this into permanent and long lasting good - a new set of computers or better track field or even better security cameras ?

That 12k is just gone very soon...

[varigdc10]

So, there's a cop at the school, crazy people know this and if they want to do some damage there the cop would be the first to get hit, because these crazies plan the attack. Then what ?

[Talmadgef]

tima and time again these crazies are COWARDS. they don't want a gun-fight as evidenced by the oregon mal shooter, Aurora, Sandy hook ect, ect. Someone else with a gun shows up they give up or suicide rather than face an actual armed opponent instead of building full of a sitting ducks they so desire..

[judymar14]

There are armed guards protecting Obama's children, as it should be. At the same time they are protecting the other students. I'm sure if a lunatic showed up with an assault rifle they wouldn't stand around doing nothing, because the First Children aren't in the class room being targeted.

[nativecc]

Bravo Laura Lauria for recognizing what the real problem is and doing something about it. How about every parent donates to do the same thing at their child's school? How about officers donate 1/2 a shift at a school per month towards defraying the cost. That is what being an American should be about. People helping where they can and not relying on the government to solve every problem or paying every bill.

[jsf14]

Some types of problems should be government responsibility. Many should not, but protection from violence is one of the basic reasons we have government.